Protect Wild and Captive Chimps from Harm

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a proposed rule that would increase protections for chimpanzees under the Endangered Species Act.

Under existing regulations, chimpanzees in captivity in the U.S. are deprived of federal protection even though wild chimpanzees are listed as endangered. This discrepancy has led to the exploitation of U.S.-based captive chimpanzees used for entertainment, invasive experiments, and the exotic pet trade. Studies show that the use of chimpanzees in these industries hurts efforts to conserve chimpanzees in the wild.

The new proposed rule would result in listing both captive and wild individuals as "endangered," which would increase protections for captive chimpanzees while positively affecting the conservation of wild chimpanzees.

Please sign the petition and send your comments in support of protecting chimpanzees before the comment period closes on August 12.

Thank you for completing a thorough scientific review of the status of chimpanzees under the Endangered Species Act, and for proposing that all chimpanzees be listed as endangered. I support the proposed rule as it will increase protections for captive chimpanzees in the U.S. and promote species conservation in the wild.

[Your comments will be inserted here.]

The use of captive chimpanzees in entertainment, the pet trade and invasive research negatively affects wild populations by leading the public to believe that chimpanzees are not in need of conservation. In addition, captive chimpanzees frequently suffer abuse and neglect in these industries.

Please help all chimpanzees by applying Endangered Species Act protections to captive chimpanzees. The U.S. government must do all it can to help conserve this intelligent and imperiled species, and the best available science supports this change in regulation.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input. I look forward to hearing your final decision.